What are processed foods?

Processed foods are foods that have been changed or made different from their original form to make them easier to eat or store.

Imagine you have a big, juicy apple. If you slice it up and put it in the fridge with some sugar, it becomes apple sauce, that’s a kind of processed food. You took something natural and turned it into something new.

Sometimes, processed foods are like making a puzzle. Think about how you make a sandwich: you take bread, add peanut butter, and then put on some jelly. Each part is simple on its own, but when you put them together, it becomes something fun to eat, just like a puzzle becoming a picture.

Other times, foods are processed in big machines that mix, heat, or freeze them. Like how cereal is made from oats that have been cooked and shaped into little pieces.

Some processed foods are still healthy, like whole grain bread or plain yogurt. But others might have a lot of sugar, salt, or flavors added to make them taste really good, even though they're not as natural anymore.